Reflect and Respond
I Look at the
pictures given below of persons engaged in the same profession. Discuss in
pairs and share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
1. Which
profession do they belong to? 
They belong to the postal service profession
as postmen or postal workers.
2. Do they face
any difficulties while doing their duty? Yes, they face extreme weather conditions,
long walking distances, heavy loads, and difficult terrain.
3. How does their
profession affect the people they meet? They bring important news, money orders, and
messages that connect families and support people living in remote areas.
II Discuss in
groups.
1. How can 'words'
be 'carried'? Words can be carried through letters, post
cards, phone calls, messages, and digital communications.
2. Who could be a
carrier of words? Postmen, couriers, delivery agents, and
telecommunication workers act as carriers of words.
3. What are the
means for people to stay connected? People stay connected through letters,
telephone networks, mobile services, and internet messaging platforms.
III Read the
words given in the box below and place them in their appropriate context in the
following passage.
We stepped out
of the vehicle at the end of the road. Immediately, our body sent 1. signals
that our decision in the afternoon was insane. We had passed a few 2.
hamlets on our way to visit the sand 3. dunes in the desert. We
could not find even a single soul outdoors, 4. defying the blazing sun.
Even the camels were 5. slumped in the little shade offered by the
khejri trees. In this remote place people relied on Bharat Sanchar Nigam
Limited (BSNL) to connect to the world as the area was 6. devoid of
other network service.
Page 207 Check Your Understanding
I Khetaram
needs to submit information about himself for getting an identity card. While
reading the text, fill up the following information sheet for Khetaram.
Ø Name: Khetaram
Ø Position: Gramin Dak
Sewak (GDS) / Delivery Agent
Ø Employer: India Post
Ø Official
address: Somarad Branch Post Office, Barmer district, Rajasthan
Ø Mode of
transport used: On foot (walking across sand beds and dunes)
Ø Key
responsibilities:
ð Delivering
letters, mailbags, and postal articles to far-flung desert hamlets.
ð Delivering
money orders and financial assistance to rural families.
ð Collecting and
handling village postal deposits and savings.
ð Assisting
villagers by reading out letters and drafting replies for them.
II Discuss with
your teacher.
1. Why do you
think Khetaram has taken up this challenging job? He took up this job to secure a steady income
and support his family of five because farming in the arid desert is unreliable
due to frequent droughts and famines.
2. How do you
think Khetaram would feel about taking up this challenging task every day? He likely feels a strong sense of duty and
pride knowing that his hard work is essential for connecting isolated families,
though he also feels physically exhausted by the extreme heat and long
distances.
Page 210 Check Your Understanding
I Complete the
table given below with the situations given in Column 1 and the reasons in
Column 2.
ð Khetaram can
dwell on any threshold. He is trusted, respected, and warmly received
by the villagers for helping them read and write letters.
ð When the
temperature is recorded as 50 degrees celsius and above, a state holiday has to
be declared. Official regulations mandate a state holiday
at 50 degrees celsius, which is why temperatures in the region are often
officially recorded just below it at 49.9 degrees celsius so work can continue.
ð BSF always gave
Khetaram a lift. The Border Security Force personnel are kind
to him and offer assistance because he distributes their mail when visiting
remote border outposts.
II Why was a
piece of jaggery offered in the village when he brought news of a birth or
weddings?
ð A piece of
jaggery was offered as a traditional token of sweetness, gratitude, and
celebration to share happiness when good news was delivered.
III How would
phone lines help Khetaram in his job?
ð Phone lines
would allow him to transition into a Gramin Sanchar Sewak, enabling him to
carry cell phones and digital communications alongside physical mail to connect
homes more efficiently.
Page 210 – 212 Critical Reflection
I Read the
extracts given below and answer the questions.
1. (i) One crop of bajra makes a
little difference for people like Khetaram because famines are frequent and a single crop is
insufficient to feed a family of five throughout the year.
1. (ii) Why did Khetaram term famine
as 'a way of life'? Droughts and crop failures occur so regularly
in the Thar desert region that they have become a normal, expected part of
local existence.
1. (iii) Give one reason why
Khetaram had to take up a job to help his family to survive. Agriculture alone cannot sustain his household
due to arid land conditions and frequent crop failures.
1. (iv) Complete the analogy given
below with a word from the extract. Khetaram: Starvation / Survival /
Employment
1. (v) What would 'a good year'
signify? It signifies a season that receives enough
rainfall to yield at least one successful crop of bajra.
2. (i) Who could have torn the right
corner of the envelope? B. Sender of the letter (Note:
Senders traditionally tore the corner to signify bad news).
2. (ii) The most likely reason for
Khetaram reading the letter twice is because he wants to ensure the recipient hears and
fully grasps the tragic news before he destroys the letter outside.
2. (iii) What was Khetaram's
philosophy regarding bad news, and how did he act upon it? His philosophy was that bad news should not
enter a home; he acted upon it by standing outside, reading the letter aloud,
and tearing it into bits to destroy it.
2. (iv) State whether the following
sentence is true or false. False (His action matched his belief
that bad news must not be carried inside).
2. (v) Mention any one aspect of
Khetaram's temperament which is revealed through this extract. He is deeply empathetic, respectful of local
traditions, and emotionally sensitive to the feelings of the villagers.
II Answer the
following questions.
1. Justify the statement made by
Postmaster-General, Rajasthan Western Region stating that the role of GDS is
'invaluable'.
The role is invaluable because
Gramin Dak Sewaks reach interior regions across deserts, islands, and river
communities that lack proper roads and are completely inaccessible by any other
transportation except walking on foot.
2. How was the purpose of India Post
different from that of the British postal system?
The British postal system was
established mainly to relay official company mail between administrative
centers. In contrast, India Post expanded after independence to bring the
entire population within the mailing network, ensuring service reaches every
remote citizen.
3. People trusted Gramin Dak Sewaks.
Support this statement with any two instances from the text.
First, rural depositors consistently
entrust their monthly savings and open operational accounts at local post
offices. Second, villagers completely rely on GDS workers to handle sensitive
communications, read personal letters, and write replies on their behalf.
4. Infer the most likely reason that
Khetaram was grateful to continue as GDS, even after the age of 60.
Continuing as a GDS provided him
with an assured livelihood, financial stability, and a sense of purpose and
physical strength, allowing him to continue serving his community and
supporting his family.
5. Explain why the author pays
tribute to people like Khetaram.
The author pays tribute because
workers like Khetaram display extraordinary dedication, resilience against
harsh weather, and selfless physical effort to keep remote communities
connected to the rest of the country.
Page 212 – 213 Vocabulary and Structures in Context
I Study the
phrases given in Column 1 and match them with their meanings in Column 2.
1.
crumbles into sand (iii) disappears in the desert
2.
give a new lease of life (i) get a chance to continue living
3.
turn into a trickle before drying out (iv) lessen gradually and then finally stop
4.
bearing across this desolate geography (ii) carrying letters to less populated
areas
II Identify
examples of alliteration and metaphor in the extract given below.
ð Alliteration: Examples
include "scorching summer winds" (repetition of the 's' sound) and
"swirling sandstorms".
ð Metaphor: "walking
sandman" is a metaphor comparing Khetaram covered in dust and sand to a
mythical sandman.
III Match the
words in Column 1 to what they suggest in Column 2 in the context of the
chapter.
1.
arid (iii) farmland without much yield
2.
concessional (i) interest rate for the farmers (
contextual match)
3.
gaunt (v) farmer waiting for the rains (contextual
match)
4.
remote (ii) corner of the world
5.
desolate (iv) desert stretching far and wide
Page 213 – 215 Vocabulary and Structures in Context
(Continued)
IV Fill in the blanks by using the
present perfect form of the verbs given in the brackets.
I 1. have just got a
collection of postage stamps from my grandfather. He 2. has collected
these stamps over a period of 20 years. I 3. have studied most of the
stamps in his collection and loved all of them. I 4. have begun my own
collection of postage stamps. Grandfather 5. truly has inspired
me.
V Complete the following paragraph
about the advice given by Khetaram.
To begin with,
a lot of stamina A. will be needed for this job. Next, reading clearly B.
will be expected to read out the letters by some of the villagers. Words C.
should be written neatly as you D. will be asked to draft replies by
some villagers. Full-sleeved shirts and trousers E. must be worn to
protect yourself from the heat.
Page 215 – 216 Listen and Respond
I You will
listen to a girl talking about an event. Fill in the blank with the suitable
word from the brackets.
The speaker
concluded her talk with a request.
II You will
listen to the girl talking about the event again. Choose the correct option for
the following questions.
1.
What was the occasion that the speaker was talking about? (i) Letter writing carnival
2.
India Post is famous for having the most extensive network (ii) in the world
3.
Letter writing is being revived as this art form has been (iii) forgotten
4.
Which of the following will be a part of the letter writing
carnival? (iii) letter posting and philately
5.
What will the postal department add to the event? (i) interactive demonstrations
Page 218 Writing Task
I Now, on
behalf of your parents draft an imaginary condolence message for your aunt on
the recent passing away of her father.
18 July 20xx
Dear Bua Ji,
We are deeply
shocked and saddened to hear about the sudden passing away of respected Nanaji.
Please accept
our heartfelt condolences during this painful time. We pray that God gives you
and the
entire family
the strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss. May his departed soul
rest in eternal
peace.
Yours sincerely
Amit and Priya
